Rip tab opener for sealed containers



Nov. 15, 1966 MORAN 3,285,467

RIP TAB OPENER FOR SEALED CONTAINERS Filed May 14, 1964 INVENTOR. (/AMES6 Moan/v United States Patent 3,285,467 RIP TAB OPENER FOR SEALEDCGNTAINERS James G. Moran, 122 N. Rose St, Burbank, Calif. Filed May 14,1964, Ser. No. 367,422 9 Claims. (Cl. 22054) This invention relates torip tab openers for sealed containers and included in the objects ofthis invention are:

First, to pr-Ovide a rip tab opener which, in its initial, sealedcondition resists rupture due to internal pressure and although easilyopened when desired, is so arranged as to minimize the possibility ofbeing accidentally opened.

Second, to provide a rip tab opener wherein a wall of the containerincorporates a closure element defining a novelly shaped area havingweakened boundaries that includes an apex, and wherein a handle memberis so attached to the closure element that the initial opening forcerequired to initiate opening of the closure element.

Third, to provide a rip tab opener which incorporates a novelly arrangedrip tab forming handle lever having a fulcrum close to the apex of theclosure element, and a relatively long lever arm extending from thefulcrum so as to require an optimum force to effect initial operation ofthe closure element.

Fourth, to provide a rip tab opener wherein the handle lever rip tab islaterally enlarged at its extremity to form, in effect, a cross elementadapted to fit comfortably between ones fingers so that a substantialforce may be readily applied to rip the closure member free of thecontainer.

Fifth, to provide a rip tab opener wherein the rip tab and closuremember are so arranged as to be particularly safe to operate, minimizingthe possibility that injury to the fingers may occur while opening thecontainer.

Sixth, to provide a rip tab opener wherein the opening formed by theclosure element is shaped to facilitate pouring or drinking from thecontainer, and the margins of the opening are curved inwardly to avoidcontact of ones lips with sharp edges when drinking from the container.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafterreference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of a sealed container such as a can showing therip tab opener in its sealing or initial condition;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the container after the rip tab has beenremoved to form an opening;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view takenthrough 3-3 of FIGURE 1 showing the rip tab opener in its initialcondition;

FIGURE 4 is a similar fragmentary longitudinal sec- FIGURES 6, 7, 8 and9 are enlarged fragmentary sec- I tional views taken through 66, 77, 88and 99 respectively of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary partial plan partial sectional view takenthrough 1010 of FIGURE 3 showing 3,285,467 Patented Nov. 15, 1966particularly the interconnection between the container closure and thetip tab;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified typeof container formed by impact extrusion.

FIGURE 12 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the connectionof the rip tab opener therewith.

The rip tab opener is intended for use with a metal container such as acylindrical container 1 having a circular cover 2. Formed in the cover 2is a score line 3 of teardrop configuration which forms the weakenedperiphery of a closure 4. More specifically, the score line includes asemicircular portion adjacent the margin of the cover and convergingportions terminating in an apex 5 extending diametrically from therounded portion.

Adjacent the apex 5 the closure 4 is provided with an integral rivetboss 6.

A rip tab handle lever 7 overlies the cover 2 and the apex end of theclosure 4 and is disposed in alignment with the axis of the closure. Therip tab 7 is essentially hourglass in shape, that is, it comprises aflared fulcrum end 8 and a flared handle'end 9 joined by a narrow neckportion 10. The fulcrum end 8 forms with the apex 5 of the closure atsmall triangular portion and is provided with an aperture 11 whichreceives the rivet boss 6. The rivet boss and aperture are preferablytriangular in shape with rounded corners and the extended portion of therivet boss forms a head firmly securing the rip tab 7 to the closure 4.

The side edges of the rip tab are provided with upturned side flanges 12which stiffen the rip tab longitudinally. At the flared handle end 9 ofthe rip tab the side flanges diverge from each other so that one maygrasp the handle end between two fingers and pull longitudinally on therip tab. At the handle extremity of the rip tab between the ends of theside flanges 12 the rip tab is arched as indicated by 13 to form arecess to receive the tip of ones finger.

Operation of the rip tab opener is as follows:

To initiate opening of the container and removal of the closure 4, therip tab 7 is pivoted from the position shown in FIGURE 3 toward theposition shown in FIG- URE 4 by upward pressure of the finger tip withinthe arch 13. This initial movement places the greatest load at the apex5 so that the sides of the closure rip open to a line defined by thefulcrum end of the rip tab. The rip tab is ivoted further in a clockwisedirection as viewed in FIGURE 4 until one is able to insert a pair offingers on opposite sides of the rip tab whereupon the rip tab is pulledaxially and is further rotated to apply a continuing shearing stressalong the score line 3 until the cover 4 is completely removed formingan opening 14 of teardrop configuration.

In order to minimize contact with the severed edge of the opening themargins of the opening designated 15, especially in the region of thecurved portion thereof, are turned downward or into the container.

The construction shown in FIGURES 1 through 10 is intended primarily forcontainers formed of tinned steel. The rip tab opener, however, may beadapted for use in connection with aluminum containers. Some types ofaluminum containers are formed by a process known as impact extrusion.One type of such aluminum container is provided with a concaved bottom15 shown fragmentarily in FIGURES 11 and 12. As a part of the impactextrusion operation a rivet boss 17 may be formed as represented inFIGURE 1'1. A score line 3 with its apex 5 may be formed in the impactextrusion operation or may be pressed into the surface of the containerafter the forming operation. The rivet boss 17 is employed to attach arip tab 7 identical to the first described rip tab except that it is ofarcuate contour to conform to the concave contour of the containerbottom. When a head 18 is formed by upsetting the rivet boss a strongand dependable connection is made with the rip tab.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details ofthe constructions set forth, and it embraces such changes,modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation andarrangement as come Within the purview .of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rip tab opener for containers, comprising:

(a) .a container wall having a score line forming a closed loop havingan apex, the material of said wall within said loop forming a stripableclosure;

(b) a rip tab overlying said container wall in contiguous relationtherewith and having a flared fulcrum end, a flared handle end and anecked portion between said ends, said fulcrum end traversing saidclosure adjacent its apex and said handle end disposed beyond said apex;

(c) said rip tab including stiffener side flanges extending along itsside edges between said ends;

(d) and means joining said closure and said rip tab between andcontiguous to said apex and said tulcrum;

(e) the handle end of said rip tab being arcuately movable about saidflulcrum to sever the apex end of said closure from said container wall;

(f) said flared handle end being manually gripable between fingers ofthe user to permit and outward pull on said closure for removal of saidclosure from the container wall.

2. A rip tab opener as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the extremity of said handle end is arched between said flanges toform a finger top receiving recess to facilitate initial lifting of saidrip tab from said container wall.

3. A rip tab opener for containers, comprising:

(a) a container wall having a semicircular score line, and convergingscore lines continuing from said semicircular score line andintersecting to form an apex, said score lines defining a closure ofessentially teardrop shape forming a part of said container wall;

(b) said rip tab overlying said container wall in contiguous relationtherewith and having a flared fulovum end, a flared handle end and aneck portion between said ends, said fiulcrum end traversing saidclosure adjacent its apex and said handle end disposed beyond said apex;

(c) said apex and said afiulcrum defining a triangular areatherebetween;

(d) and a triangular connecting means within said triangular areaforming said closure and riptab;

(e) and means joining said closure and said rip tab between andcontiguous to said apex and said fulcrum;

(f) the handle end of said rip tab being arouately movable about saidfulcrum to sever the apex end of said closure from said container wall;

(g) said flared handle end being manually Igripable between the fingersof the user to permit an out- Ward pull on said closure *for removal ofsaid closure from the container wall.

4. A rip tab opener as set forth in claim 3, wherein- (a) the extremityof said handle end is arched between said flanges to form a finger tipsecuring recess to facilitate initial lifting of said rip tab from saidcontainer wall.

5. A rip-tab opener for containers, comprising:

(a) a container wall having a semicircular score line, and convergingscore lines continuing from said semicircular score line andintersecting to form an apex, said score lines defining a closure ofessentially teardrop shape forming a part of said container Wall;

(b) said container wall, at least in the region bordering saidsemicircular score line being turned downward to iorm a smooth margin ofarcuate cross section;

(c) a longitudinally rigid rip tab having a fulcrum end and a handleend, said fulcrum end overlying said closure adjacent said apex andextending axially beyond said apex (d) and means joining said closureand said rip tab between and contiguous to said apex and said lolcrum;

(e) the handle end of said rip tab being arcuately movable about saidfulcrum to sever the apex end of said closure from said container wall.

6. A rip tab opener for containers, comprising:

(a) a container wall having a score line defining a closure adapted tobe severed from the container wall;

(b) and a rip tab having a lateraly flared handle bordered by flangesadapted to overly a pair of fingers of a user, a narrow, stiff stemdimensioned to fit between said fingers, and a fulcrum end joined tosaid closure adjacent a margin thereof;

(c) said rip tab initially positioned contiguous to said said containerwall, and having an arched portion at the extremity of said handleengageable to raise said handle by rotation about said fulcrum forinsertion of said fingers under said flanges, whereby on furtherrotation and pull on said rip tab, said closure is severed from saidcontainer.

7. A rip tab opener for containers, comprising:

(a) a container wall having a score line defining a closure adapted tobe severed from the container Wall;

(b) a rip tab having a laterally flared handle end and fulcrum end, saidends being joined by a narrow connecting stem, the lateral sides of saidhandle end and said stem being bordered by flanges to stiffen said stemand provide finger engaging surfaces;

(0) and means for attaching said rip tab adjacent said fulcrum end tosaid closure adjacent a margin thereof, whereby on rotation of said riptab, and the application of tension thereto, said closure is forced freeof said container.

8. A ript tab opener according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) said rip tab is initially positioned contiguous to the surface ofsaid container wall, and said handle end is arched at its extremitybetween said flanges to facilitate initial pivotal movement, thereby topermit insertion of fingers astraddle said stem and under said handleend.

9. A rip tab opener for metal containers comprising:

(a) a container Wall tfo-rmed of sheet metal and having a score linedefining a closure of essentially teardrop shape and forming an apex;the major portion of said score line being disposed substantially belowthe surface of the container wall and the margin of said container wallconfronting said closure being curved to provide a smooth guard surfaceand minimize chance contact with the edge of the metal from which thecontainer wall is formed;

(b) a rip tab having a laterally flared handle end and fulcrum end, saidends being joined by a narrow connecting stem, the lateral side of saidhandle end and said stern being bordered by flanges to stiflen said stemand provide finger engaging surfaces;

(0) means for attaching said rip tab adjacent said fulcrum end to saidclosure at its apex end, with said rip tab ibeing rotateable about saidfulcrum to on seal the apex end of said closure, whereby said closuremay be pulled from said container wall by outward pull on said rip tab;

(d) said nip tab having at the extremity of its handle end and archedportion extending between said side flanges to facilitate initialmovement of said mip tab away from said container wall thereby to permitinsertion of fingers astraddle said stem.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,166,783 7/1939Mun-k 22053 5 3,084,835 4/1963 Walsh 22054 3,191,564 '6/1963 Fraze220-54 3,215,306 11/1965 Simpson et al 220-54 10 G. T. HALL, AssistantExaminer V THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

1. A RIP TAB OPENER FOR CONTAINERS, COMPRISING: (A) A CONTAINER WALLHAVING A SCORE LINE FORMING A CLOSED LOOP HAVING AN APEX, THE MATERIALOF SAID WALL WITHIN SAID LOOP FORMING A STRIPABLE CLOSURE; (B) A RIP TABOVERLYING SAID CONTAINER WALL IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION THEREWITH ANDHAVING A FLARED FULCRUM END, A FLARED HANDLE END AND A NECKED PORTIONBETWEEN SAID ENDS, SAID FULCRUM END TRAVERSING SAID CLOSURE ADJACENT ITSAPEX AND SAID HANDLE END DISPOSED BEYOND SAID APEX; (C) SAID RIP TABINCLUDING STIFFENER SIDE FLANGES EXTENDING ALONG ITS SIDE EDGES BETWEENSAID ENDS; (D) AND MEANS JOINING SAID CLOSURE AND SAID RIP TAB BETWEENAND CONTIGUOUS TO SAID APEX AND SAID FULCRUM; (E) THE HANDLE END OF SAIDRIP TAB BEING ARCUATELY MOVABLE ABOUT SAID FULCRUM TO SEVER THE APEX ENDOF SAID CLOSURE FROM SAID CONTAINER WALL; (F) SAID FLARED HANDLE ENDBEING MANUALLY GRIPABLE BETWEEN FINGERS OF THE USER TO PEMIT SAIDOUTWARD PULL ON SAID CLOSURE FOR REMOVAL OF SAID CLOSURE FROM THECONTAINER WALL.